Method and Arrangement for Energy Conversion in Stages

Abstract

A flexible method and arrangement provides an effective conversion of energy from any kind of energy sources and/or fuels by combustion and/or gasification, during long-term sustainable economy and environment, by energy conversion in stages. With an open partially circulated condensate system and/or a closed circulation feed water system, stages include first stage of conversion by gasification/combustion, pressurized and/or atmospheric with or without steam- and/or gas-turbines and/or pressurized fuel cell, followed by a second stage of conversion, which second stage utilizing condensation cooling including direct and/or indirect heat transmissions by the first stage produced pressurized mass flow of primary/secondary/residual heat comprising sensible and latent heat, by means of arrangement of expander turbines including counter current fed feed water/condensate fractions during preheating of condensate and feed water respectively before the return to the first stage of conversion. The expander turbines of the second stage with or without co-operation by a third stage of integrated heat transmissions together with the first and second stages effectively transform the mass flow of primary/secondary/residual heat/gas into bio-fuels, mechanical energy as electric power via turbine connected generators, or driving mobile machines/vehicular—a hybrid type of rotation motor during continuous combustion.

1 . Method for recovering energy from any kind of energy sources by energy conversion in stages when the first (I) stage conversion, with or without at least one gas and/or steam turbine for generation of electric power (henceforth only named power) and/or production of another kind of mechanical energy, by at least one closed circulating steam/feed water system and/or by at least one open partially circulating condensate system with separation of condensate excess, both the systems during thermal decomposition and/or stoichiometric and/or substoichiometric oxidation/combustion of at least one fuel in at least one reaction/combustion chamber or another arrangement of corresponding functioning, when at a closed feed water system said oxidation/combustion is almost atmospheric or pressurized, when at an open condensate system said oxidation/combustion occurring during pressure and increased steam partial pressure by the fuel content of hydrogen and/or water and/or supplying water separately, followed by the energy conversion of a second (II) stage, which stage representing condensation cooling of by the first (I) stage utilized/produced energy in form of pressurized primary/secondary/residual heat/mass flow, without or with content of inert gases depending upon a closed or an open feed water/condensate system, by at least one expander turbine or similar apparatus of corresponding functioning of type rotating machine, containing at least one partial step with or without an intermediate separation of feed water/condensate, wherein the expansion/condensation cooling of the expander turbines occurring during counter current fed condensate fractions from any of the ending turbine steps separation of feed water/condensate of lower pressure and temperature after which said fractions, in the whole or part of, are fed stepwise forward during increasing pressure and temperature as at discharge of preceding expander turbines of higher temperature, direct and/or indirect via heat exchangers, while the condensation effect of primary/secondary/residual heat/mass flow, comprising sensible and latent heat, is more effective and simultaneously the feed water/condensate is preheated before return to the first (I) stage of the conversion, which condensate in an open system representing said water supply during the oxidation/combustion/vaporization into the fuel and/or into the connection to the reaction/combustion chamber, after which the condensation cooling of the open system come to an end by separation of expansion cold condensate excess of the ending turbine step from when occurring condensation cooled inert gases, while the second (II) stage conversion of the systems producing power by at least one turbine connected generator, and/or another form of mechanical energy. 
   
   
       2 . Method according to  claim 1 , wherein said energy sources including fuels as well as fuel similar substances and/or compounds comprising part or parts of: hydrogen, hydrogen compounds and hydrogen carbon compounds, as natural/bio gas, natural gas hydrate NGH and liquid natural gas LNG as well as any fuel gas from gasification, geothermal heat and/or any kind of by industrial process produced gases/liquids and/or reaction/conversion heat and/or combustion heat or another kind of heat as a whole or part of, furthermore comprising fuel/residual heat within nuclear power plants. 
   
   
       3 . Method according to  claim 1 , wherein said hydrogen compounds including hydrogen peroxide H 2 O 2 , which compound as a whole or partially constituting besides a fuel also an oxidizing agent, simultaneously the reaction process can be pressurized by reaction of the hydrogen peroxide decomposition. 
   
   
       4 . Method according to  claim 1 , wherein as oxidizing agent representing all kind of oxygen containing substances and/or compounds in liquid, gaseous or solid forms as a whole or part of. 
   
   
       5 . Method according to  claim 1 , wherein the first (I) stage of the energy conversion including any kind of known reaction/oxidation/combustion processes, with or without at least one gas and/or steam turbine, with or without the expansion turbines of the second (II) stage energy conversion, for generation of power or production of another form of mechanical energy, said processes including reaction/combustion chamber with or without quench for separation of slag/melt with dissolver, pressurized fuel cell, condensing power plants and combined power and heating plants with or without fluidized bed or melt bed—or any kind of energy producers, which pressurized primary/secondary/residual heat/mass flow connects the steam turbines and/or said expansion turbines comprising steam cycle of nuclear power plants, and integrated gasification combined cycle (IGCC) in combination or parts of. 
   
   
       6 . Method according to  claim 1 , wherein atomization medium of the reaction chamber burner system comprising hydrogen sulphide, hydrogen, gaseous compounds of hydrogen and/or hydrogen carbon, oxygen containing gas as a whole or parts of, preferably the medium moistened by water containing medium, preferred steam and/or hydrogen peroxide. 
   
   
       7 . Method according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the steam/gas/condensate flows of the condensation cooling and/or at least one of the feed water/condensate flows of the condensation cooling, is/are utilized for preheating and/or vaporization and/or condensation via heat exchangers of at least one medium, preferably as at least one fuel and/or oxidizing agent and most preferred in the state of liquid/compressed/cooled and/or cooling medium cycle, when necessary additional condensation capacity is provided by another cooling medium. 
   
   
       8 . Method according to  claim 1 , wherein the condensation cooling of the expander turbines comprising separation of at least one or part of condensate/feed water fractions when suitable for an exchange by supplying another water containing medium/feed water, of higher or corresponding temperature, preferably of lower temperature. 
   
   
       9 . Method according to  claim 1 , wherein the method comprising a recovery/conversion of chemicals and/or organic substances from any kind of industrial gas—and/or liquid/residual/flows/liquors, for example black liquor of cellulose industry by one or more stages of reaction/oxidation progress in reaction/combustion chamber, by more stages preferably means sub stoichiometric combustion—gasification—followed by a stoichiometric/over stoichiometric combustion of by the first stage produced fuel gas, with or without another fuel supply, when suitable from said fuel gas recovering synthesis gas for further production of chemicals, mobile motor fuels etc. and/or mechanical energy. 
   
   
       10 . Method according to  claim 9 , wherein the sub stoichiometric operating criteria of the first reaction/oxidation step preferably of high operating pressure, 20-220 bar (a), and high steam partial pressure during lowest possible operating temperature, preferably 820-970° C., for split of sodium (Na, K) and sulphur (S) compounds, when mainly said sodium compounds are separated mainly as a solid/liquid phase of slag/melt and sulphur compounds mainly as hydrogen sulphide comprising part of the fuel gas. 
   
   
       11 . Method according to  claim 9 , wherein the recovery of synthesis gas comprising further processing into ammonia NH 3 , hydrogen peroxide H 2 O 2  and/or mobile motor/bio-fuels as dimethylether DME and/or methanol CH 3 OH, or corresponding in the whole or part of. 
   
   
       12 . Method according to  claim 1 , wherein the gas phase/mass flow content of suspended dust particles of coarse/fine/ultra fine sizes, which during the condensation cooling of the open system constitutes condensation nuclei for vaporized condensable substances and/or compounds besides water steam also unburned volatile hydrogen carbons and none process elements/heavy metals, whereby said dust particles are wetted and increased in weight and falling out of the said gas phase/mass flow and into the preheated liquid/condensate phase, which contaminated phase mainly is returned into the reaction chamber for destruction and vaporization. 
   
   
       13 . Method according to  claim 1 , wherein out of the circulating liquid/condensate phase, and/or another condensate fraction, separating/recovering none process elements/heavy metals etc. 
   
   
       14 . Method according to  claim 1 , wherein at an open system, both the first (I) and second (II) stages of the energy conversion comprising gas handling of by gasification produced fuel gas for recovering hydrogen sulphide and/or hydrogen and/or synthesis gas, and/or by combustion produced flue gas by oxygen as an oxidizing agent consisting of expansion cooled, more or less, carbon dioxide CO 2 , which handling when suitable including return of at least one partial flow of said carbon dioxide into at least one reaction/combustion chamber and/or utilizing said carbon dioxide at another market and/or for final waste disposal of liquefied/compressed carbon dioxide deep into see or into suitable geological formation, comprising carbon dioxide as hauling agent for fuel/crude oil, and/or final waste disposal comprising adsorption into formations of black/brown coal/colliery for recovering hydrogen carbon compounds as for example methane. 
   
   
       15 . Method according to  claim 1 , wherein the first (I) and second (II) stages of the energy conversion are followed by a third (III) stage representing some kind of by the second (II) stage heat exchangers integration of at least one cooling medium loop with for the process suitable cooling type of medium mainly fed counter current and including at least one pump and at least one of any kind of expander turbine producing mechanical energy, as for example power via at least one generator. 
   
   
       16 . Method according to  claim 1 , wherein the first (I) and second (II) stages of the energy conversion with or without co-operation by a third (III) conversion stage constituting rotation motor for driving stationary apparatus/machines or mobile machine/means of transport/craft at land, sea or into air. 
   
   
       17 . Method according to  claim 16 , wherein said mobile machine constituting hybrid vehicle driven by fuel fed arrangement/motor and/or electrically driven motor by generator and/or accumulator/battery. 
   
   
       18 . Method according to  claim 1 , wherein the first (I), second (II) stages and when required a third (III) stage of the energy conversion are followed by an additional conversion stage consisting of any kind of power operated local heat pumps, when absent/restricted production of conventional secondary/residual heat/district heat for housing/local heating and production of tap off hot water is compensated/made up by said heat pumps, which energy sources includes part or parts of: waste heat, ground/rock, lake/sea/water, open air, mechanical ventilation/exhaust air, with or without heat supply by integration of any kind of solar heating systems, with or without heat pump integration of cooling plants. 
   
   
       19 . Arrangement for recovering energy from any kind of energy sources and/or fuels, with fuel similar substances and/or compounds by at least one reaction/combustion chamber for thermal decomposition/combustion/gasification, by energy conversion in stages when said thermal decomposition/combustion/gasification including a first (I) stage of energy conversion, with or without at least one gas and/or steam turbine for production of mechanical energy, followed by extended conversion of a second (II) stage, which said second (II) stage arrangement representing expansion cooling by condensation of vaporized substances and/or compounds by at least one expander turbine or at least one expander turbine with at least two partial steps or similar apparatus of corresponding functioning of type rotating machine for production of mechanical energy, comprising when necessary at least one device for fractional separation of condensate/feed water, wherein the arrangement, in an open and/or a closed condensate/feed water system, mainly comprising counter current fed condensate/feed water with return of hot condensate/feed water in connection to any type of reaction/combustion device, or into another device with corresponding functioning, while at occurrence of condensate excess within the open system, separation occurring of cooled condensate excess preferably by an ending device while piping arrangement of the expander turbines comprising at least one heat exchanger constituting preheating/vaporization and/or cooling device/condenser for actual media, said heat exchangers furthermore when needed constituting part of arrangement for a third (III) conversion stage in form of at least one cooling medium loop, whereby the energy conversion mainly constituting production of mechanical energy in form of power by generators and/or device for driving a stationary machine or mobile machine/means of transport/vehicular/craft. 
   
   
       20 . Arrangement according to  claim 19 , wherein this includes wholly or partially:
 one or more energy sources comprising arrangement for utilizing geothermal heat and/or within industrial process produced reaction heat and/or any kind of heat or other sources as part or parts of: pressurized mass flow from at least one combustion/reaction chamber, pressurized fuel cell, steam cycle of combined power and heating plants or nuclear power plants as well as integrated gasification combined cycle IGCC,   at least one closed circulating steam/feed water system and/or at least one open partially circulating condense system with separation of expansion cooled condensate excess, comprising at least one stage of combustion device of almost atmospheric or pressurized within the closed system, while within the open system includes at least one stage of pressurized combustion device during increased steam partial pressure,   at least one condensation cooling arrangement comprising one or more expansion steps and/or partial steps, constituting separate units or one single multi step expander or another kind of rotating turbo machine, where every expander step or partial step or only when necessary are followed by at least one separation device for separation of feed water/condensate,   arrangement of at least one heat exchanger/condenser/pre heater/vaporizer into steam/gas/condensate piping and/or into feed water/condensate piping after expander turbines for preheating and/or vaporization of at least one fuel and/or at least one oxidizing agent or another suitable cooling medium, while counter current fed feed water/condensate is preheated before return to the energy conversion first (I) stage,   arrangement of heat exchangers when contaminated condensate and/or gas, a counter current fed gas phase vs. the condensate flow is preferred,   at least one air compressor for feeding pressurized oxidizing agent, preferably without inter stage cooling and with or without water injection cooling, and/or device for supply of other oxygen containing substances or compounds, wholly or partially,   at least one low temperature loop of circulating counter current fed cooling medium in co-operation with said heat exchangers, comprising at least one pump and at least one expander turbine, or similar apparatus of corresponding functioning of type rotating machine, for condensation cooling and production of mechanical energy, for example generation of power by at least one generator,   arrangement within the open system for condensation and elimination of gas containing dust particles of coarse/fine/ultra fine sizes as well as un-burnt hydrogen carbons, which are transferred into the liquid phase for injection and destruction in connection to the energy conversion first (I) stage,   device within the circulating condensate of the open system, and/or another condensate fraction, for separation/recovery of non process elements/heavy metals,   generation of power by at least one expander turbine driven generator of the second (II) stage of energy conversion as well as when appropriate also by at least one preceding gas and/or steam turbine driven generator of the first (I) stage of conversion,   arrangement for separation of at least one or part of the condensate/feed water fractions of the expansion cooling, when suitable for an exchange by supplying another water containing medium/feed water of higher or corresponding temperature, preferably of lower temperature,   at least one arrangement for recovering chemicals/melt/salts and/or device for recovering sulphur dioxide from flue gas, as well as from fuel gas: hydrogen and/or synthesis gas for production of bio-/vehicle-fuels and/or hydrogen peroxide or other compounds,   at least one static and/or dynamic short time contactor device for selective absorption of hydrogen sulphide and/or sulphur dioxide, preferably by alkaline medium and series in counter current,   at least one arrangement for taking care of expansion cooled flue gas, of almost only carbon dioxide, as a partial flow when suitable to be returned into at least one reaction/combustion chamber and/or to be utilized at another market and/or as final waste disposal deep into sea or into suitable geological formations, comprising carbon dioxide as hauling agent for fuel and/or for adsorption into formation of black/brown coal/colliery for recovering hydrogen carbon compounds as methane,   vacuum strengthened device at the ending expander step comprising liquid ring pump or corresponding apparatus and/or fan and/or barometric fall leg with water seal—for require controlled vacuum,   construction material of expansion turbine/turbo machine, or similar apparatus of corresponding function, by corrosion and erosion resistant quality at exposed parts of apparatus,   heat pump arrangement for require controlled local heat production for housing/local heating and production of tap off hot water.   
   
   
       21 . Arrangement according to  claim 19 , wherein the first (I) and second (II) stages of the energy conversion with or without the third (III) stage are utilized for driving stationary or mobile apparatus/machine—the later any kind of vehicle/means of transport/craft at land, sea or into air, also comprising wholly or partially:
 at least one pressurized combustion/vaporization/reaction chamber with or without integration of at least one pressurized fuel cell with at least one expansion turbine with or without preceding at least one steam turbine step by the first (I) and second (II) stages of energy conversion, with or without the third (III) stage of the cooling medium loop, co-operated driven by electricity, by mechanical and/or hydraulic power transmission or in another way,   combustion/vaporization/reaction chamber with compressor and gas turbine and/or steam turbine representing the first (I) conversion stage,   device for the supply/vaporization of cooled/compressed liquid media as oxidizing agents and/or fuels, comprising hydrogen and methane,   generator with reversible drive as a starting function, alternatively by separate starter motor,   at least one accumulator/battery with at least one electrical motor for electrically driven possibility of hybrid vehicle.   possibility for individual motor drive of wheels/propellers or corresponding.